A softer riding crop (left) will be used at Del Mar Racetrack instead of a stiff leather whip that can cause welts.

/ John R. McCutchen / U-T

A softer riding crop (left) will be used at Del Mar Racetrack instead of a stiff leather whip that can cause welts.

A softer riding crop (left) will be used at Del Mar Racetrack instead of a stiff leather whip that can cause welts. (/ John R. McCutchen / U-T)

At the urging of industry leaders and animal-rights activists such as Bo Derek and PETA, the Del Mar Racetrack is banning the hard leather whips that cause stinging — and sometimes raw welts — on horses' hides.

Beginning tomorrow, Del Mar will be the first track in California to require jockeys to use softer riding crops in every race.

Instead of stiff leather, the new whips have a cushion made of softer material, such as woven fabric or supple leather that makes a “pop” noise when it hits the horse. It's not loud enough to distract other horses on the track, jockeys said.

“Instead of running from the sting, they're running from the sound,” said Darrell Haire, regional manager for the Jockeys' Guild.

Jockeys use whips to steer a horse or get its attention. They are allowed to use them on a horse's shoulders or hindquarters. Problems typically arise when a jockey accidentally hits a horse on its tender flank or belly, causing cuts.

Dr. Rick Arthur, equine medical director for the California Horse Racing Board, said the veterinarians who check horses after each race file about two dozen complaints with the board each year about whip welts.

The new whips typically cost $55 to $85, about 30 percent more than the older ones. Craig Fravel, executive vice president of the Del Mar Thoroughbred Club, which operates the summer meet, said the club is providing $60 whips to jockeys who can't afford them.

“The jockeys came to us and said, ‘Our riders are ready to do this here,’ ” he said.

“We love the horses and we're always looking for new things to improve racing,” said jockey Alex Solis.

“I think the new whip is better; I like it,” said jockey Joel Rosario. “I've won a lot of races with it.”

Another jockey, Danny Sorenson, said most jockeys have at least 10 riding crops, so the cost of replacing them adds up. “If it can prevent any welting or injury of the horse, then by God, I'm for it,” he said.

Derek, an actress and model and lifelong horsewoman who was appointed a year ago to the California Horse Racing Board, pushed for the change.

Derek said yesterday that she noticed Del Mar jockeys were already using the new riding crops, so she met with them on Opening Day to discuss making it a rule.

“I said, ‘You might as well get on with it instead of waiting for the regulations,’ ” Derek said. “They were very responsive and willing to do it, and they deserve the credit.”

Derek, 52, who lives in the Santa Barbara area, owns Spanish and Portuguese riding horses, and she has had several racehorses named after her.

The next track in California to require the softer whips will be Hollywood Park at its meet this fall. Other notable tracks that recently began using the softer whips include Churchill Downs in Kentucky, Belmont Park and Saratoga in New York and Pimlico in Maryland.

The industry initiative to improve horse safety began after a death at last year's Kentucky Derby, said Mike Ziegler of the National Thoroughbred Racing Association. On May 3, 2008, a young filly, Eight Belles, crossed the finish line at Churchill Downs, then collapsed when both of her front ankles snapped. She was euthanized and became the first horse to die in the famous 1¼-mile race.

Some say it's possible the whip played a role, although officials at the Kentucky Derby said it was a “freak accident.”

The incident attracted national media attention and prompted People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals to call for a ban on whips.

In a statement on the Eight Belles incident, PETA called for the jockey to be disciplined, saying he “whipped her mercilessly as she came down the final stretch.” The group said other factors in the collapse were the youth of the horse and the hard track.

The incident prompted the racing association to convene a special committee to determine best practices and create a racetrack accreditation process.

Some of the industry standards, completed in March, address equipment, such as the crops and horseshoes. When research is complete, the standards will address track surfaces, such as the cushioning synthetic Polytrack in use at Del Mar. There also are standards requiring racetracks to report horse injuries to a national database and governing the use of equine drugs.

Kathy Guillermo, a PETA vice president, said she's pleased that the industry is making changes. “This has been an industry that's been ripe for reform for a very long time,” she said. “We'll keep pushing for more.”

Derek said she sought an appointment to the horse racing board in part to work on horse welfare issues.

“When I came on the board, I was astounded to see how much is being done, and how much is in the works for horse welfare,” she said. “Everyone is working so hard to solve these problems.”